Scanner match() method in Java with Example

Last Updated : 11 Jul, 2025
The match() method of java.util.Scanner class returns the match result of the last scanning operation performed by this scanner. Syntax: 
public MatchResult match()
Return Value: This function returns a match result for the last match operation. Exceptions: The function throws IllegalStateException if no match has been performed, or if the last match was not successful. Below programs illustrate the above function: Program 1: Java 
// Java program to illustrate the
// match() method of Scanner class in Java
// without parameter

import java.util.*;

public class GFG1 {
    public static void main(String[] argv)
        throws Exception
    {

        String s = "GFG Geeks!";

        // create a new scanner
        // with the specified String Object
        Scanner scanner = new Scanner(s);

        // check if next token is "GFG"
        System.out.println("" + scanner.hasNext("GFG"));

        // find the last match and print it
        System.out.println("" + scanner.match());

        // print the line
        System.out.println("" + scanner.nextLine());

        // close the scanner
        scanner.close();
    }
}
Output: 
true
java.util.regex.Matcher[pattern=GFG region=0, 10 lastmatch=GFG]
GFG Geeks!
Program 2: To demonstrate IllegalStateException Java 
// Java program to illustrate the
// match() method of Scanner class in Java
// without parameter

import java.util.*;

public class GFG1 {
    public static void main(String[] argv)
        throws Exception
    {

        try {

            String s = "GFG Geeks!";

            // create a new scanner
            // with the specified String Object
            Scanner scanner = new Scanner(s);

            // check if next token is "gopal"
            System.out.println("" + scanner.hasNext("gopal"));

            // find the last match and print it
            System.out.println("" + scanner.match());

            // print the line
            System.out.println("" + scanner.nextLine());

            // close the scanner
            scanner.close();
        }

        catch (IllegalStateException e) {
            System.out.println("Exception caught is: " + e);
        }
    }
}
Output: 
false
Exception caught is: java.lang.IllegalStateException: No match result available
Reference: https://docs.oracle.com/javase/7/docs/api/java/util/Scanner.html#match()
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